Ofcom today issued O2 with a deadline for meeting its 3G
roll-out obligation and what steps it proposes to take should the
mobile phone operator still not be in compliance.
The obligation requires each of the five holders of a 3G licence
to roll-out their networks to enable the provision of 3G services
to at least 80% of the population from 31 December 2007.
Ofcom has now completed its assessment of compliance with the
obligation. Four of the five licensees have complied, but O2 only
covered 75% of the population. This is a shortfall equivalent to
approximately 2.5 million people.
Ofcom has now issued O2 with a notice under the procedure in the
Wireless Telegraphy Act for licence breaches. This proposes that if
O2 has not met the rollout obligation by the end of June 2008,
Ofcom will shorten the term of its 3G licence by four months.
O2 has until 30 June 2008 to make representations to Ofcom and
to demonstrate that it has complied.
If Ofcom decides to reduce the term of O2's licence it would end
on 31 August 2021 rather than 31 December 2021.